Transfer Application Requirements

Application materials

• Caltech will accept only one application for transfer admission.
• $75 Application fee or fee waiver.
• Math and physics entrance examinations.
• Letters of evaluation: Caltech requires two college faculty recommendations from math, science, or engineering professors. Applicants are required to include the name and contact information of their recommenders in their application. Caltech will then contact the recommenders to request their letter of recommendation.
  • Applicants sometimes request an additional recommendation letter that provides a significantly different evaluation than the other two letters. If you have an additional recommendation letter from a coach, mentor, employer, etc., we welcome the submission. Please be sure the letter includes your full name and date of birth. The additional recommender may email the letter directly to our office at [email protected]
• College Official's Report: This form is available through the Caltech applicant portal, the Beaver Breakroom. Applicants gain access to the Beaver Breakroom after they submit their application.
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. Please ask a school official to submit electronically to [email protected] and ask that your full name and date of birth are included.
• Official transcripts from your secondary school (grades 9-12, or the international curriculum equivalent). Please ask a school official to submit electronically to [email protected] and ask that your full name and date of birth are included.

International applicants

Additional requirements of applicants who are international citizens:

• International Financial Aid Statement of Intent: Caltech does not have financial aid available to transfer students who are neither US citizens nor permanent residents (including undocumented and DACA students who graduate from a U.S. high school). The application will prompt you to confirm your understanding that you are not eligible for need-based financial aid at any point in your undergraduate career at Caltech.
• English Translation: All application materials must be submitted in English. If any application material was printed in a language other than English, we require the original document and an English translation. Documents must be translated by an official translator. We will not accept any documents that have been translated by the student/applicant.
• English Proficiency Exam Scores: Required of all international students unless 1) your native language is English or 2) English is the primary language of instruction in your secondary school and your university. We accept the Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS, or the TOEFL.

Supplemental Materials

You are welcome to provide supplemental materials that you believe will help our admissions committee learn more about you. Though we understand the type of materials will vary, they should fall within one of the three following categories:

• Research paper, abstract, or publication (citation if published, letter of recommendation, and research description)
• STEM Portfolio
• Non-STEM Portfolio

After you submit your application, you will receive a link to the Caltech application portal, Beaver Breakroom, which will include instructions on submitting supplemental materials.

Verification Statement

Upon admission, Caltech reserves the right to conduct verifications of submitted proofs. Any discrepancies or falsifications will result in the rescission of your admission to Caltech.

Course Credit

Once you are admitted, we will give you a pre-evaluation estimate of your class standing, which will tell you if you will enter Caltech as a second- or third-year student. After you enroll, our registrar and faculty will review your transcripts and syllabi to determine course credit.